Next Solstice CANCELLED? - Page 4

Fformula88 · 09-02-2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichSol

So that's what "halo" means..."glaring loss of funds".

Not all halo's lose money. Corvette is not a money loser for instance. The Sol deos lose money, and they justified it as a "marketing expense."

Someone touched on this earlier, things like the rear diff issues forcing extra repair expenses, having to design in the torque beam, and such have have eaten a bigger hole in the bottom line than GM had banked on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomsSol

Ain't that the truth!!! And none of us want to abuse or put any of our sources in jeopardy. With information I get receive from mine I always ask what, if any, I am allowed to share. And there has been info I have had to keep to myself for MONTHS!!

I know you do, and certainly didn't want to imply you would get someone in trouble. It was more so for the benefit of insiders who lurk... to be careful not to get themselves in trouble!

SlyCoupe · 09-02-2008, 09:40 AM

Yeah, it's also not to say that we'll never see the Solstice/Sky ever again. Give GM a few years to get their sh*t back together, and return to profitability, then bring the Sol/Sky back out.

Nothing wrong with that. As of now we all simply don't know, yeah we can get as much info from our sources who most in fact aren't going to know 100% themselves but until any news comes out all we can do now is speculate...

mikeysolstice · 09-02-2008, 10:00 AM

So slap a couple of newly shaped plastic pieces on the exterior, add an extra bolt or two here and there so you can claim "better rigidity", add slightly wider wheels/tires so you can claim better handling, do a tune to 23 PSI on the motor, and add 15 grand to the price and market it as a high end car. Their mistake wasn't the car, it was marketing such a high performance machine as a "cheap" car. If they're losing 10 grand on each car, the car should have retailed for 40 grand in the first place. It probably wouldn't have changed the numbers sold: just the demographics of who was buying them! Wouldn't have bothered me... I'd still have one and we wouldn't have as many teenie boppers on this forum.

Mike

LowLife1 · 09-02-2008, 11:06 AM

Rumormill: GM kills the Kappa II platform - Autoblog
Well as this news starts making the rounds, I think it bears pointing out, that it seems a lot of people only hear "Kappa Cancelled", and may assume the Sol/Sky program is cancelled, and then don't buy the car because they think the current cars are going to be orphans

, and then sales nosedive and they do become orphan cars

.

BellaVerde · 09-02-2008, 11:17 AM

I have no trouble believing the car "loses" money, but dedication to a platform instead of planning for just the quarter would be the way to go. I like the concept of no "big" changes, but small improvements every year, year after year, like VW did with the original Bug from 1943 to 1972. The styling is a winner, and timeless.

"Kappa II" should be adding a hybrid like the Honda Corp has done. Stick one of those recuperative getups in there and find a place for the batteries....oops...nevermind.

rlhammon · 09-02-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowLife1

Rumormill: GM kills the Kappa II platform - Autoblog
Well as this news starts making the rounds, I think it bears pointing out, that it seems a lot of people only hear "Kappa Cancelled", and may assume the Sol/Sky program is cancelled, and then don't buy the car because they think the current cars are going to be orphans

, and then sales nosedive and they do become orphan cars

.

You forge the general public doesn't follow information like this... this group of folks here and those reading the automotive blogs do however.

Mass media still drives the majority of peoples thoughts and influences in the world.. it's sad, but it's also true. This is not a mass media story, and thus the "general" public will not even know. Heck.. I still get 2 - 3 people a month asking who makes my GXP and how long have they been made... and that even happens when I'm in Detroit metro area!!

As to the discussion about sources... yeah, I think those of us with information know what to share, and what not to share. Plus our sources know we are active and they protect themselves. I think most folks try not to 'one up' another with their information... but instead try to substantiate what others are saying or implying. Over time folks here who read will learn who's information they are comfortable with, and all will be good. Remember, some of work at GM, some have worked at GM, some work at suppliers, some have worked at suppliers, some have family / friends who work at either, and still others read information on the web and portray it as their knowledge. It's all fun to see.. but all put out there to help and inform at the same time.

To FF88's comment about programs being considered... I know of a few that would surprise the heck out of folks, I'm guessing you know the same. Man... one day I'd like to meet a few certain folks from here and swap stories / connections... I already know I knew people from here outside of here before the forum started. It's a small world... small world indeed.

brentil · 09-02-2008, 11:26 AM

The hardest part is knowing something and not being able to share it.

Envious06 · 09-02-2008, 11:43 AM

If they would have added the Caddy V6 as an option instead of building that stupid coupe, they wouldn't be able to keep them on the lot. I hope they do cease production, the sooner the better. I gots mines and I love it. Don't need to see them everywhere I go as long as I have one in my driveway.

perris · 09-02-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Envious06

If they would have added the Caddy V6 as an option instead of building that stupid coupe, they wouldn't be able to keep them on the lot. I hope they do cease production, the sooner the better. I gots mines and I love it. Don't need to see them everywhere I go as long as I have one in my driveway.

I will ask again, why a v6 when the straight is a smoother better engine, why do you think the v configuration is a better choice then the straight?

brentil · 09-02-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Envious06

If they would have added the Caddy V6 as an option instead of building that stupid coupe, they wouldn't be able to keep them on the lot. I hope they do cease production, the sooner the better. I gots mines and I love it. Don't need to see them everywhere I go as long as I have one in my driveway.

I don't see how a version that would cost more money, weigh more, and get worse fuel economy would have created a 'sales surge' compared to the Coupe which will appeal to far more people who need that type of functionality. Especially in this current failing economy and fuel minded car purchases.

Designing the Coupe also was far cheaper and quicker than designing for a V6. The entire engine bay would have needed to be redesigned alone with the structure as well. It would have been a massive undertaking to do, pretty much a Kappa II in essence.

JeffInDFW · 09-02-2008, 12:53 PM

The Coupe was certainly a better choice. At work, I've had several people tell me they want one that never would buy a convertible.

Well guys, thanks for letting us know that this information is indeed correct. Heart braking, really. It is like when GM cancelled the Camaro. The Camaros long history is what brought it back...I'm not so sure we will see the Solstice/Sky return.

So.....thus begins the long "death watch". I went thru this with the Camaro (I was very big in the Camaro community).

perris · 09-02-2008, 01:53 PM

the camaro's were cancelled because they carried alot of social baggage, I knew as a fact they would make a comeback for us boomers when the time was right, just as I believe the firebird will make a comeback as well

turboman808 · 09-02-2008, 02:01 PM

Well it could be possible the Solstice loses them money. If you think about it for a minute it's got just as much if not more technology in it then a corvette which is more then twice the price.

I always thought to myself "Why is the corvette so expensive compared to the GXP". I guess I should have been thinking "Why isn't the GXP more money?" It really is a bargan compared to other sports cars.

So Yeah I think it's quite possible they are losing money on it. But I think it was also a platform for testing new technologies. In that respect it's probably been worth it. But at some point the experiment has to stop.

STIC5 · 09-02-2008, 02:31 PM

Wow... I really hope that the Solstice doesn't die, and if it does, I hope it pulls a Camaro and comes back stronger than ever. That being said, I'm now pretty much set on getting a Solstice Coupe GXP. If there is no 2nd gen Solstice, that's going to be the rarest and most collectible.

Squirrel Boy · 09-02-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomsSol

Ain't that the truth!!! And none of us want to abuse or put any of our sources in jeopardy. With information I get receive from mine I always ask what, if any, I am allowed to share. And there has been info I have had to keep to myself for MONTHS!!

Oh really?.....come on you can tell me,I'll keep it quiet.